Personal Integrity of Teachers

Integrity shows up in repeated decisions

Integrity here means wholeness or completeness of character. It appears as a stable pattern of honesty, truthfulness, uprightness, sincerity, respect, fairness, impartiality and responsibility. This matters particularly for teachers because an ordinary comment, grade or judgement can affect a student's confidence and opportunities. Intentions and actual decisions both count.

Prof. Sreekumar N draws on Indian and Greek traditions to show that education has long connected knowledge with character. The guru removes the darkness of ignorance, and enlightenment extends into character and conduct. Aristotle links education with learning the art of living well. The peace invocation saha nāvavatu is read as a commitment for teacher and learner to receive protection, nourishment and intellectual strength together in a spirit of mutual respect. In each case, education involves how people learn and live together as well as what they know.

Prof. Sreekumar distinguishes institutional integrity, ethical administration and the teacher's personal integrity, then focuses on the last. In practice, teachers avoid cheating and plagiarism, grade fairly, maintain professional conduct and reject unlawful or unethical acts. Conflicts of interest should be disclosed and handled openly. When personal advantage conflicts with the wider good, the teacher should put the wider good first. Their conduct affects trust in both their institution and education as a social institution.

Integrity also applies to intellectual work. Teachers need to keep learning, welcome questions and criticism, report results honestly and accept evidence that contradicts a preferred hypothesis. A respectful and inclusive classroom makes that openness visible to students. By practising it consistently, teachers give students room to become confident, independent thinkers.